OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF MINING ON THE ... - IIED pubs

4.21.1.6 Human impacts on water resources (excluding mining)
The following activities can be expected to have an impact on water resources in the Nzhelele sub-catchment:
• Minor seepage from solid waste disposal sites at several of the larger settlements;
• Non-point domestic effluent from numerous small settlements and farms;
• Minor non-point impact from non-intensive subsistence agriculture;
• Non-point impacts of agricultural return flows from intensive irrigation areas; and
• Litter and domestic garbage along the roads that traverse the sub-catchment.
4.21.2 Mining and mineral processing operations
The following mining operations are of interest in this sub-catchment (Figures 4.2 and 4.3; Table 4.24).
Table 4.24: Mining operations in the Nzhelele sub-catchment.
Code
Number
Name of Mine
Commodity (ies)
Mined
Status
Relative
Size
Probable
Impact
A8-1 Limpopo Nickel, Lead Closed Very small Very low
A8-7 Shangani Coal Prospecting Very small Very low
4.21.3 Alluvial mining
None known or anticipated.
4.21.4 Monitoring systems
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) Regional office in Pietersburg carries out irregular
monitoring of river flows and water quality in this sub-catchment, as well as some borehole monitoring.
4.21.5 Water quality data
No specific water quality data for this sub-catchment could be obtained in time for this report.
4.21.6 Implications for water quality and quantity management
The available evidence suggests that the very limited mining activities in this sub-catchment are unlikely to have
had any significant impact on either the local water resources or on water quality in the area. Any impact would
be likely to consist of a minor increase in suspended solids concentrations during periods of high flow following
rainfalls.
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